Department of Health and Social Care

Pancreas: Medical Equipment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of artificial pancreas technology being made available on the NHS.

Edward Argar: NHS England is working with a number of specialist centres around the country to pilot the use of artificial pancreas technology. Data and analysis will be shared with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to inform their assessment on the future use of this technology.

Hospitals: Private Sector

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS England plans to spend on (a) private hospital capacity and (b) work by private hospitals in 2021-22.

Edward Argar: NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently in discussion with NHS Providers and the independent sector regarding spending private hospital capacity work in 2021-22.

NHS: Managers

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many chief executives there are of bodies that are part of the NHS in England.

Edward Argar: The Department does not hold the information requested.

First Aid: Medical Equipment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of bleeding control packs that are publicly available.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of bleeding control packs that are available in public places.

Edward Argar: We have made no such estimate and no assessment has been made.The number of bleeding control packs is determined at local level and it is for National Health Service bodies working with organisations such as local businesses, education establishments and other community outlets to decide where packs should be located.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: Redundancy

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will instruct the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to publish the business case on the redundancies announced at that agency.

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on whether additional funding is needed to avoid job losses at the agency.

Edward Argar: The Department currently has no plans to do so.The Department meets regularly with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to discuss a range of issues.

Nabiximols

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with Clinical Commissioning Groups in England on the availability of Sativex to patients with MS.

Edward Argar: The Department has not had any direct discussions. However, the Department has discussed the issue with NHS England which has issued a reminder to clinical commissioning groups in England of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidance and their responsibilities and will be monitoring uptake.The latest guidelines from NICE recommend Sativex to treat moderate to severe spasticity in adults with multiple sclerosis, if other pharmacological treatments for spasticity are not effective. The decision on whether to prescribe must be taken by a specialist clinician on a case by case basis and funding of this medicine is subject to local National Health Service decisions.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Health on 10 September 2021, Official Report, Column 631, when he plans to respond to the email from the hon. Member for Christchurch dated 14 September 2021 on arranging the meeting which the Minister agreed to help convene.

Edward Argar: We replied to the hon. Member on 14 September and 23 September.

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire, dated 26 March 2021, regarding the Health and Social Care White Paper, ref ZA56056.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire, dated 9 April 2021 on Integrated Care Systems and CCG staff, ref ZA55780.

Edward Argar: We replied to the hon. Member on 23 September 2021.